Local Lifter In Wheelchair Knows No Boundaries

SPORTS

August 25, 1993|By Joe Williams, of The Sentinel Staff

Tim Babinec's brief, but already successful career in wheelchair weightlifting, reached another high last week when he won a gold medal at the National Wheelchair Veterans' Games in San Antonio, Texas.

In addition, Babinec also received official notification last week from the National Wheelchair Athletic Association that he has been picked to represent the United States at the World Cup in London, England, beginning Oct. 3.

Babinec, 29, a former Tavares High School football player who was left in a wheelchair after an automobile accident a year ago, took first-place in the middleweight division (170 to 181 pounds) with a 300-pound lift.

In addition, Babinec added a gold medal in the shot put, and silver medals in the discus, javelin and air rifle competitions. It was the first time he had competed in any of those events.

''They said you had to do five events, so I said I wanted to do the field events. Most of the weightlifters go with the field events and I shoot my rifle all the time,'' said Babinec, who is ranked second nationally in weightlifting. ''I guess I did OK considering I hadn't done those events before.

''It was like the Olympics for veterans. They had everything there from bowling to table tennis.''

Now, though, Babinec is unsure whether he will be able to compete in the World Cup, which would be his first international weightlifting tournament.

To go to the World Cup, Babinec needs to raise $1,800 by Sept. 3. Included in that total is $400 that needs to be paid this Friday to cover the cost of uniforms. The NWAA, a non-profit organization, does not finance its athlete's trips.